Anti-neoplastic compositions comprising extracts of black cohosh

1. A composition for use in treating neoplasia, comprising an effective anti-neoplastic amount of actein, and an effective anti-neoplastic amount of at least one additional chemotherapeutic agent, wherein the at least one additional chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of cisplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, herceptin, paclitaxel, and tamoxifen,

wherein the amount of actein is about 0.2 μg/ml to 20.0 μg/ml; and

wherein the amount of cisplatin is about 2 μg/ml to 20 μg/ml,

the amount of doxorubicin is about 0.02 μg/ml to 0.2 μg/ml,

the amount of 5-fluorouracil is about 0.002 μg/ml to 0.2 μg/ml,

the amount of herceptin is about 0.8 μg/ml to 32 μg/ml,

the amount of tamoxifen is about 2 μg/ml to 50 μg/ml, and

the amount of paclitaxel is about 0.5 nM to 5 nM.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the neoplasia is a carcinoma, a lymphocytic leukemia, a myeloid leukemia, a malignant lymphoma, a malignant melanoma, a myeloproliferative disease, a sarcoma, a brain tumor, a childhood tumor, or a mixed type of neoplasia.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the carcinoma is a breast carcinoma or a colon carcinoma.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is paclitaxel, wherein the amount of actein is between about 0.5 μg/ml to about 5 μg/ml, and the amount of paclitaxel is between about 0.5 nM to about 5 nM.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is herceptin, wherein the amount of actein is between about 0.2 μg/ml to about 2 μg/ml, and the amount of herceptin is about 8 μg/ml to 32 μg/ml.